Liberals to fast track mining approvals

The Liberal party will also encourage the continued exploration of minerals and petroleum.

7.30 Report

The WA Liberal party will spend $20-million to help fast track mining approvals if it is re-elected to govern in a fortnight.

The party plans to create a database of environmental and heritage information, which mining companies will be able to access online.

It will also expand an approvals tracking scheme it introduced during its current term of government that allows proponents to track the progress of their approval, regardless of which government department is doing the evaluation.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore says the two policies will make it easier for mining companies to get their approvals processed. "They'll be able to see what work's been done in the past," he said.

"[They] can access that, and use it, and save having to repeat a lot of the approvals processes that they would have had to do if that information was not available."

The State's peak mining lobby has welcomed the pledge.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy says both policies will encourage future growth and investment across the sector.